Niagara University Theatre presents 'Picasso at the Lapin Agile'

The NU Theatre Department and the Castellani Art Museum present, "Picasso at the Lapin Agile" written by Steve Martin and directed by Adriano Gatto.

Thu, Feb 7th 2013 06:25 pm

by Chelsea
Anderson

The
NU Theatre Department and the Castellani Art Museum present "Picasso at the
Lapin Agile," originally written by Steve Martin and directed at NU by Adriano Gatto. The play goes back in time to see what
would happen if Pablo Picasso and Albert Einstein had actually met and shared
ideas. The show takes on a comic approach to show how art and science come
together. The audience should expect this show to be filled with "food for
thought" and unanswered questions as Picasso and Einstein discuss their
intentions.

The
brilliant Picasso is played by Alan Trinca, who describes Picasso by saying, "He's
a heartbreaker and typically doesn't think before he acts. He has an air of
confidence that supersedes the rest of the characters and has to be the best."

Michael
Sheridan plays the shy thinker Einstein.

"He
looks to see the world in a fresher way," Sheridan said. "He shares qualities
with Picasso, but is more willing to admit that he's wrong."

The
stubborn-yet-strong barmaid Germaine is played by Stephanie Valliere.

"Germaine
is more street-smart than book-smart," Valliere said. "She wants more out of
her experience as a woman, and is ahead of her time with some of her ideas."

The
characters all have something in common: they want something more out of life. This
makes for a thoughtful and entertaining show.

"Picasso
at the Lapin Agile" will be staged in the Castellani Art Museum, instead of the
usual location of the Leary Theater, so as to set the atmosphere for where
Einstein and Picasso meet prior to the major breakthrough in their careers. The
bar, the Lapin Agile or "Nimble Rabbit," actually existed and had works of art
on the walls, so the art museum makes for a great setting.